Parish Clergy
Rev. Fr. Sotirios P. Malamis, Proistamenos
Voice: (847) 482-1200
Email: frsotirios@ascensiongoc.com
Rev. Fr. Sotirios P. Malamis was born in Elmhurst, IL on August 6, 1978, the eighth of nine children to Fr. Panagiotis & Presvytera Theodora Malamis. After graduating York High School in 1997, Fr. Sotirios attended DePaul University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. During his four years at DePaul, Fr. Sotirios was the OCF President of DePaul University. In 2001, he attended Holy Cross School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts, where he received a Masters of Divinity with high distinction. He continued his theological studies at the University of Athens from 2004 through 2006 in the field of Pastoral Theology and Religious Education. While in Athens, Fr. Sotirios continued to pursue his interest in Byzantine Music; his efforts enabled him to receive a teaching degree in Byzantine Music. On September 1, 2014, Father Sotirios Malamis began his tenure as Parish Priest (Proistamenos) of the Ascension of Our Lord Church.
Fr. Sotirios married Presvytera Stefanie (nee Lialios) on July 8, 2007. On March 2, 2008, he was ordained to the holy diaconate at St. Demetrios in Elmhurst, IL and on November 16, 2008, he was ordained to the holy priesthood at Holy Trinity in Chicago. Fr. Sotirios’ first assignment was at Holy Trinity in Chicago where he served for six years. He also served as the Spiritual Advisor at the Hellenic American Academy from the time of his ordination to the Holy Priesthood until 2013. From 2013 until his move to Ascension in 2014, Fr. Sotirios served as the Associate Pastor at the Saint John the Baptist Church in Des Plaines, IL. He taught Byzantine music to area students for several years and also expanded the program online nationwide.
On September 1, 2014, Fr. Sotirios Malamis began his tenure as Parish Priest (Proistamenos) at the Ascension of Our Lord Greek Orthodox Church in Lincolnshire, IL. In that capacity, he provided leadership and spiritual guidance during a $9 million, 21-month construction project, which culminated in the opening of a new church and community center on June 5, 2019. In September 2019, Fr. Sotiri was nominated and elected by the Metropolis of Chicago Clergy Syndesmos to serve as its representative on the Archdiocesan Council. Father was also elected that year by the Clergy Laity to serve on the Metropolis Council, and still remains on the Council today.
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On November 5, 2023, at Ascension's 25th Anniversary Gala, His Eminence Metropolitan Nathanael of Chicago elevated Fr. Sotirios P. Malamis to Protopresbyter, the highest distinction attainable for a married priest; and also bestowed upon him a gold cross. AXIOS!
Fr. Sotiri and Presvytera Stefanie have three children, Maria, Niko and Aimilianos.
(Photo taken November 2023)
John Anton, Pastoral Assistant
Voice: (847) 482-1200
Email: janton@ascensiongoc.com
Born in 1996, John L. Anton is a native of the Chicagoland area. Growing up at Holy Taxiarhai & Saint Haralambos Church in Niles, IL, John served as an altar boy for 14 years and actively participated in GOYA. After graduating Stevenson High School in 2014, he attended DePaul University for one year before transferring to Hellenic College in Brookline, Massachusetts and completing his undergraduate studies there, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religious Studies. He concurrently earned the Holy Cross Certificate in Byzantine Music with a perfect score.
Returning to the Chicagoland area, John became involved in lay ministry in various capacities. He volunteered as Liturgics committee chair for the YAL Chicago Conference between 2020 and 2022; interned at the Metropolis of Chicago in the communications department in 2018; and both chanted and taught Byzantine music at both St. John the Baptist in Des Plaines, IL and Holy Apostles in Westchester, IL in 2019-2021. John also served many years at the Metropolis' Fanari Camp Ministries, beginning in 2016 as a camp counselor and ultimately serving as Staff Director through 2021.
Inspired by his experience in the Church, John returned to Boston for seminary and earned his Master of Divinity degree from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, completing his studies in December 2022. He began his new appointment as the Pastoral Assistant at Ascension of Our Lord in Lincolnshire, IL on January 1, 2023 with the blessings of His Eminence Metropolitan Nathanael of Chicago. John is extensively involved in furthering the work of Ascension's ministries, with special emphasis on the parish's youth and young adult ministries, all in support of and shadowing the parish proistamenos, Fr. Sotirios Malamis. He also chants and teaches Byzantine Music classes there.
